Seek Help From Airship Experts

The PRO website suggests that documentation on British airships and personnel is pretty thin, so I am appealing to the Forum for informed detail.

1. It appears that in March 1915, twenty Acting Sub-Lieutenants, RN were loaned to the RNAS for "special service". One of these was John A. Barron, who later became an airship officer. Were the other 19 also assigned this task ? Are any other names of the group known ?

2. As of 17 March 1915 he had been assigned to Kingsnorth Air Station. I assume this was training only; where is it ? what sort of equipment would it have ? what type of curriculum would be followed ?

3. The diary of Airship C.10 is not recorded in PRO; Volume 2 of WAR IN THE AIR indicates that on 6 October 1916 Barron the subject of a favourable report on the occasion of sighting a U-boat whilst on C.10. His postings indicate he would be at either Kingsnorth or Mullion Air Stations. Does anyone know of documents or memoires that would suplement this meagre piece of information ?

4. Detached to the Mediterranean, he was on strength of No.6 Wing as of 18 June 1917. Barron was subsequently decorated with the Italian Order of St.Maurice - reputedly for service out of Taranto. I have no details of RNAS airships or attached personnel in this theatre and nothing to specify what actions may have resulted in this award. Italian expertise in this theatre would be especially welcome.

5. On 8 February 1918 he was assigned to the United States. I can assume this was part of inter-Allied liaison and advice, but knowing nothing of American airship programmes, I cannot speculate on where he would be working or what specific duties he may have been assigned. He appears to have left the United States about June 1918 for purposes of advising the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service (then in the process of formation).

HELP !!! Even if you do not have information, you may know the person who does !

Ces Mowthorpe is the British airship expert.
C10 was built at Kingsnorth and written off in an accident at Mullion. Most of the C series were built at RNAS Kingsnorth as were SSN, SSP and SSZ
series. I suggest getting a copy of Battlebags, British airships of the first world war,by
Ces, this has to be the bible on the individual airships used by the British in WW1. It also has a good bibliography. Out of interest Kingsnorth is in Kent and Mullion in Cornwall.

andy

If you can get a look at a copy of a book called The Royal Naval Air Service (Tempus Publishing)isbn 0-7524 1627-8, there is a picture on page 112 of C10 at RNAS airship station Longside , Aberdeen .

is that the C10 or the C10A they were different airships.

andy